President Donald Trump announced plans to deploy the National Guard to Chicago and New York, cities under Democratic control, despite Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker’s criticism that the move is an overreach of presidential power and could exacerbate tensions. Meanwhile, U.S. immigration numbers have declined sharply for the first time since the 1960s, attributed to Trump’s restrictive immigration policies.
Trump Considers Sending National Guard to Additional Cities
On Friday, President Donald Trump announced intentions to deploy the National Guard to Democratic-controlled cities, including New York and Chicago, following its previous mobilization of approximately 2,000 personnel in Washington. Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker criticized the move, stating it lacks justification under any emergency state and accused Trump of attempting to incite a crisis.
Chicago Mayor Expresses Serious Concerns
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson condemned the proposal, revealing he had not received any official communication about the National Guard’s potential deployment. He described Trump’s actions as “uncoordinated, unnecessary, and unreasonable,” warning that such “illegal deployment” could escalate conflicts between residents and law enforcement, undermining progress in reducing crime.
U.S. Immigration Numbers Drop Sharply
Meanwhile, immigration figures in the United States have fallen for the first time since the 1960s. As of January, the immigrant population reached 53.3 million, the highest in U.S. history. Six months later, this number declined by over a million to nearly 52 million, according to a recent report by the Pew Research Center. The data highlights a significant shift, with the labor force losing over 750,000 workers since January. A declining workforce can only be replenished through immigration, the report notes, emphasizing that without it, the economy will face greater challenges.
Trump’s Immigration Policy as the Primary Cause
The decline in immigration is linked to changes in U.S.-Mexico border policies and increased immigration enforcement under Trump since he took office in late January. His administration has raised arrest rates for immigrants, restricted legal migration through stricter visa processes, limited refugee entry, banned travel, and created procedural barriers to legal immigration.
Source: Gazeta, Pew Research Center
